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CHAPTER 4
“I couldn’t tell,” Sam says laughing. “So tell us, what is your motivation? What has got you this far?”
“My daughter, Reese, of course is my main motivation. I want to be someone she can be proud of. And myself. If I’m really being honest, I’m doing this for… What the hell?”
Cackling from the living room has me rolling my eyes as I stir honey into my Greek yogurt. Doing my best to ignore it, I turn to Liz and Reese, who are sitting at the kitchen table going over some documents. “What’s this project about?” I ask, peeking over Reese’s shoulder.
She turns the sheet over and glares at me. “Mom, you know we can’t talk about it.”
Wrinkling my nose at her, I say, “It’s about fake people.”
“This is a real campaign I’m working on with Aunt Liz for extra credit.”
“Well it’s all over my kitchen table,” I retort. “If you wanted to keep it private you should have gone to Lizard’s house.”
“She’s having her carpets shampooed.”
“If I’m really being honest, I’m doing this for… What the hell?”Clanging can be heard coming from the television set in the living room, and I can only guess what Sheridan is watching now.
“What?”Sam the interviewer asks in confusion.
“Oh my god. Oh my god!”comes my voice.
“Cat, get up!”Julie says.
“Are you getting this?”
Sheridan is laughing so hard she’s doubling over. She rewinds the clip and starts it again.
“That’s it!” I yell and stomp in there, taking the remote from her and pausing the scene.
Her laughter turns into downright hysteria when she looks around me at the screen. Pointing at it, she somehow says, “There was no part of you hidden behind that stool!”
Automatically I turn to see what she’s talking about and groan instantly. She’s right. If it wasn’t me that I’m looking at, I’d laugh, too. But it is me, and I don’t find the sight of me falling off the stool and huddling on the floor all that funny. Although the look on Julie’s face does make me snicker a little.
“Come on, Cat, sit by me.” Sher takes her feet off the couch to make room.
“Are you gonna stop poking fun?” I ask.
“Probably not. But you know I love you. Besides, I needed a good laugh. I’ve had a shitty day.”
“Glad I could make you feel better,” I say, plopping down beside her.
“Who would have thought that Cute Guy was also Competition Guy.” Sher shakes her head in wonder.
“Yeah. And he somehow got it in his mind that we’re gonna date.”
“You’re so lucky. Next thing you know you’ll be getting married and having babies,” she says reproachfully, taking a sip of her drink.
“Sher, the only one who wants to get married and have babies here is you. Maybe you should date him.”
“You know what would happen if I did.” Sheridan sounds thoughtful and sad.
“Sher, what happened with Stephen doesn’t always happen. In fact, you’re the only person I’ve ever met in that position.” I pat her hand reassuringly, hoping she believes me.
It really was so unexpected. Even I, who have a daughter with same sex sexual preferences, never saw it coming. Stephen was gay. After ten years of marriage, he came out to her. It was a brave thing indeed and I’ll forever be proud of him for it.
At the same time, it left my friend with a broken heart and it completely shattered her confidence to choose a partner for life. Which is all she’s ever wanted. To grow old with someone. But in order to trust someone else with your heart, you have to trust yourself first. That is Sher’s battle. Like most of us, she is her own worst enemy.
